YORK Business Week will return for 2015 after a new format for the annual event was hailed a success attracting attendance figures of more than1,500 people.

This year’s event has been overseen by York Business Engagement Group, but it was individual organisations and businesses that were invited to organise their own events under the Business Week umbrella.

Previous years have seen more than 5,000 people attend in excess of 50 events, however this year's York Business Week, now in it's fifth year, featured an agenda with a more focussed approach of 15 self organised events aimed at inspiring even more people to become entrepreneurs, letting start-ups know how and where to access support, and showcasing York’s business success stories.

The uptake of the events, and the commitment from local businesses and organisations was such that organisers say York Business Week will return for a sixth event in 2015.

Emma Smailes, chairman of York Business Engagement Group, which organised this year’s Business Conference, said: "We are delighted with how the York business community has taken York Business Week as its own.

"As well as some long-standing events such as the York Business Conference and Apprenticeship Graduation, there have been numerous events that are brand new this year that have originated from the business community and as such have been really well attended.

"This has given the whole week a new injection of energy, which has been great to see.

"Looking ahead to next year we hope that the quality of events continues and we hope to strengthen the ties with the Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign."

Business Week got underway with a ‘SUPER’ networking event hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in partnership with Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, Ian Walker & Co, and Broadbents Recovery Services, attracting more than 200 people.

Around 200 people then attended the York Business Conference, organised in association with Langleys Commercial and East Coast Main Line and with sponsorship from the Federation of Small Businesses, Shepherd Group, The York CORE and City of York Council.

The conference featured the former executive chairman of one of Britain’s most iconic retail names, ex-Marks & Spencer boss Lord Stuart Rose, appear as the keynote speaker.

Business Week concluded with the biggest ever Press Business Awards, welcoming more than 400 people to a black tie dinner at York Racecourse.